Schoolchildren from separate worlds have been breaking down cultural barriers with a joint sixth form education scheme.

And now their schools' head teachers have been nominated for Bradford's Community Harmony Awards for their positive work in fostering cultural interaction and building community bridges.

Sixth formers from the predominantly white Holy Family Catholic School and pupils from Greenhead High School, which has predominantly Asian pupils, in Keighley, have been taking all their lessons together since 2000 as part of an associated sixth form scheme.

Students from a range of backgrounds have been interacting with one another and benefiting from a variety of vocational and academic courses.

The initiative was set up in September 2000 after the head teachers, Conor Davis of Holy Family and Trish McCarthy of Greenhead, met to discuss ways of improving education.

Holy Family has a strong academic focus while Greenhead High has a strong vocational emphasis. The head teachers decided to combine the two to boost educational opportunities for the children.

The schools now run the scheme under joint management and offer 300 children up to 30 different courses.

Holy Family deputy head teacher Chris Bohills hailed the project. He said: "It allows children from very different cultural backgrounds to work together both socially and academically, breaking down barriers and changing attitudes. The Catholic community is a close one and it would be very easy to remain excluded from other communities without the scheme."

Joint activity days have been organised to encourage social integration including religious education days, language sessions and social gatherings.

Mr Bohills hopes the initiative will be rolled out to other schools in the area.

Both schools are in the Three Valley Confederation with Oakbank School, Parkside School, Ilkley Grammar School and Keighley College, and are currently in talks to find ways of promoting community harmony, a high priority on this year's agenda.

The Community Harmony Awards nominations were praised by Mr Bohills. "It's a good thing to be recognised for doing something in the community. And the success we have had has been tremendous.

"We have improved the opportunities we can offer, which means pupils can stay on at the schools, instead of going elsewhere."

More nominations are being sought for the Lord Mayor's community harmony awards, before the March 31 deadline.